Seed Swap – Cherryville

March 10th At the Cherryville Hall was an amazing success, over 160 signatures in the guest book and many vendors who taught and shared garden wisdom.

Bee SAFE celebrated it landslide results for the over whelming votes for a GMO free region. Thanks to their efforts and organization they demonstrated the power of cohesiveness as a community. A special thanks to

Special thanks to Vendors and Educators

Cherryville: 96.4% in favour of banning GM crops!

Following the presentation given by Bee SAFE in February, Cherryville overwhelmingly supported a ban on GMO crops. “It’s scary to see that had we not called for a vote, 3.6% of Cherryville voters would have decided on our future – if the GMO trend had continued, it would have been impossible for anyone else to grow organic or conventional crops” said Carla Vierke.

The fact that GMO crops contaminate other crops means that it’s impossible for GMO to co-exist. GMO corn can contaminate organic corn from as far as 3 km while GMO canola can contaminate all brassica including cabbage, kale, broccoli, wild mustard, etc…

United Nations calls for fundamental shift in farming.

The United Nations recently reported that ecological farming could double food production in 10 years, and that a “fundamental shift in farming” away from GMO and industrial farming is needed. Jane Emlyn adds “the solution now is to support small-scale farms, developing a resilient food economy based on health, quality of life, protection of the environment and the elimination of pesticides.”

Rural Lumby to talk GMO!

Bee SAFE will hold a meeting to discuss banning GMO crops on Wednesday March 27th at 7 PM at the Whitevalley Community Centre. Please come and let everyone know so we can make an informed decision on whether to join Cherryville and protect our farms and our food.

Bee SAFE has asked RDNO’s Agricultural Advisory Committee to develop a “Transition Guide” for GMO farmers so they can get all the help and advice needed to transition to an agriculture that doesn’t take away others’ right to grow non GMO crops.

How to keep away from Monsanto seeds!

It is that time again for the seed catalogs to arrive and for people to go to seed swaps. It may surprise you that seeds that you have been purchasing for years may be owned by Monsanto who has been buying up seed companies at an alarming rate. Approximately 40% of the US vegetable seed market is owned by Monsanto when they purchased Seminis. See the Heirloom seeds marketed by Monsanto and the reasons they benefit from them.

Planting a garden means more than choosing certified organic seeds because Monsanto has positioned itself to make money off the increase in home gardens. This means that when you buy organic or heirloom seeds from a completely independent company you may be supporting the big nasty corporations.

Here’s how to buy Organic or Heirloom Seeds Without Supporting Monsanto:
Don’t buy from these.
DO buy from these companies who are not affiliated with Monsanto or Seminis.
Avoid certain heirloom varieties because Monsanto now apparently owns the name
Ask seed companies if they have taken the Safe Seed Pledge. These companies have done so:

It would seem that Monsanto is trying to make money on each and every one of us. They are not satisfied that they have monopolized the supermarkets by making most of the foods contaminated with GMO but now they are going after the organic home gardener. Here is somebackground information that you may find interesting. Let’s all do our part to educate ourselves and stop Monsanto from choking out our ability to grow healthy food.

Weekend Events:

A marvelous FREE documentary film festival in Kelowna this weekend at the Okanagan College and at the UBC campus going from Thursday evening, March 7 to Sunday, March 10. See the Schedule here.

Among the many excellent films, you may not want to miss BITTER SEEDS, Saturday 11:30 AM: since the World Trade Organization forced India to open its markets to GM seeds such as Monsanto’s BT Cotton, farmers have been forced into untenable debt in order to buy the more expensive seeds, fertilizers and pesticides required to make them grow. Every 30 minutes a farmer in India kills himself…

Cherryville Seed Swap:
Sunday at the Cherryville hall from 10 AM to 3 PM – don’t forget time will have changed!

Monsanto ‘Owned’ Heirloom Seednames

First of all, Monsanto or nobody else can actually OWN these varieties of seed, but as developers of some of these varieties and as suppliers of them under many different companies it can be hard to tell who owns what. It does not stand to reason that any crop of these varieties growing today or anytime in the future will be genetically modified in any way. Some of these varieties can be found without any continuing connection to Monsanto or Seminis but it is important to be a little more cautious with these.

If you are the type of gardener who purchases vegetable seeds or seedlings, including tomato plants from a local garden center, be mindful the varieties you choose. Conversely, you might be placing money into the hands of Monsanto Corporation. Below is the list of Seminis/Monsanto home-garden vegetable variations. It’s often best to buy directly from seed farmers and companies that you can trust (you can find many of them here)

Print this list, and keep a copy in your wallet. Don’t be caught off guard the next time you impulse shop at a big-box garden center.

The seed varieties you have obtained as “heirlooms” from heirloom or organic seed companies are “NOT” GMO seeds, even though they are officially “owned” by Monsanto. As far as we know, the only GMO vegetable seeds available for sale today are new hybrid varieties of zucchini and summer squash, so be sure you order these from certified organic suppliers.

Please understand that Monsanto only owns the trademark names for these “heirloom” varieties. This stretegic move holds two advantages for Monsanto:

1.) prevents new companies from naming new varieties with these or very similar names.

2.) it is an effort to stop lucrative sales by these other companies trying to leverage the heirloom name and consumer loyalty for those heirloom varieties.

If you have left over seeds, do not be reluctant to plant them. Monsanto will only profit from customers purchasing these varieties from companies that are stocking seeds obtained directly from Monsanto or one of its distributors.

About Fritz Kreiss

Fritz Kreiss is the founding head of Occupy Monsanto. He has a history in natural health, nutrition, herbal medicine, Eastern Medicine, acupuncture, kinesiology, physiology, and many years of practice as a professional massage therapist and teacher.

Therapeutic Baths

Charcoal – Detox

The charcoal bath can be used for smokers and alcoholics who need detoxification as well as anyone who needs to detox.

Charcoal baths are also effective for people with skin disorders such as eczema, skin irritations, atopic dermatitis, infection, and inflammations. Activated charcoal’s purifying, detoxifying, deodorizing, and anti-bacterial properties will wash any impurities on the skin.

Ginger Bath: Sweat Those Toxins Out!

Before diving into the ginger bath, let me share with you some information about ginger, a powerful health-enhancing root.Ginger is a tropical species originating in South East Asia, but the exact origin of this rhizome is uncertain. As Ginger is not known to grow in the wild, the plant would have rapidly spread from the Indian Ocean to Africa and the West Indies, where it is most widely cultivated today.

Pythagoras the ancient Greek mathematician and philosopher was one of its staunch supporters, and the Romans -who valued its medicinal properties and popularized its use throughout their European colonies- brought Ginger to Europe. King Henri the 8th of England is said to have used ginger for protection against the plague.

For centuries, Arab merchants controlled the ginger trade as well as other exotic spices that were highly sought after by the Europeans for culinary and medicinal use.

Ginger is also mentioned in the literature of the ancient Greeks and Romans. It has found its way into the most classic of ancient remedies, the “Mithridate”, a mythical poison antidote, which was one of the most highly sought-after drugs during the Renaissance.

Ginger Bath

What prompted me to write this article is the incredible experience I personally had with the ginger bath.

I had been feeling cranky for a few days with flu symptoms I was unable to shake off. The fact that I was overwhelmed with work and in a deadly race against deadlines only made matters worse.

Feeling sorry for my misery, my friend Francine insisted I try a ginger bath, without going into much detail as to what happens in the process.

I obediently obliged and, in the evening, feeling shaky and achy, filled my bathtub with hot water and half a cup of grated ginger, as suggested. I gratefully eased myself into the warm and fragrant water.

Little did I expect what was going to happen next!

Within 5 minutes of lying in the bathtub, it felt like my body had turned into a tap! Sweat started pouring down my face and out of every single pore in my body in a way I had never experienced, not even while doing the most strenuous of sports! Not only during my 20-minute bath, but for the next couple of hours, completely soaking the bathrobe I was wearing.

I slept like a baby that night and, to my amazement, woke up feeling energetic, cleansed and … completely symptom-free!

Is it magic?

Not at all! We all know by now that sweating is one of the most potent ways to get rid of toxins.

So, for those of us who don’t have access to a sauna or steam bath, the ginger bath is a simple and sure way to sweat all those nasty toxins out of your body!

Ginger Recipes

Ginger Bath: You can use either fresh grated ginger or ginger powder. Add ½ a cup of freshly grated ginger or a rounded teaspoon of ginger powder in hot or warm water and soak for 15-20 minutes. Please remember that the ginger bath will make you sweat profusely for at least an hour afterwards, so wear a bathrobe or sweat clothes.

Make sure you drink plenty of water after the bath. If you have sensitive skin or are allergy-prone, test ginger on your skin for irritation before the bath.

Ginger Infusion Recipe: The ginger infusion works wonderfully in treating common cold and flu symptoms. Its effective anti-mucus properties relieve chest and nasal congestion, as well as inflammations. Finely chop a good piece of ginger (slightly smaller than your palm). This infusion will keep for up to 48 hours. Place in 1 litre of water and bring to the boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat and leave to simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, then let it steep for 10 minutes. Serve a ¾ mug of ginger and add ½ a squeezed lemon and 1 teaspoonful of honey, or to taste. Drink throughout the day as soon as you have cold or flu symptoms. This infusion will get rid of them in 48 hours!

Note: The longer the ginger soaks in the water, the sharper the taste becomes.

Ginger and Garlic Paste Recipe: Peel and chop 4 ounces of garlic and 4 ounces of fresh ginger root; mix ingredients in a blender; transfer to a jar and add one teaspoon of olive oil; refrigerate. Use a spoonful of this delicious blend as a base for flavouring your recipes.

Main Health-Enhancing Benefits of Ginger

Calms nausea, including motion sickness dizziness

Relieves gas and bloating

Helps stop diarrhea

Boosts digestion

Calms menstrual cramps

Relieves headaches

Anti-inflamatory

Stabilises blood pressure (equally when too high or too low)

Lowers cholesterol

Soothes cold and flu symptoms, as well as respiratory infections

Known for its anti-cancer properties

Freshens the breath naturally

The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger have been known and valued for centuries. Modern Medicine has now provided scientific support for the long-held belief that ginger contains constituents with anti-inflammatory properties. It is known to reduce the pain of rheumatoid arthritis and encourage blood circulation.

Caution: If you take anti-coagulants, consult your doctor before using ginger.

If you’re looking to lose weight, then the Detox Bath is an ideal addition to your routine. A combination of the Detox Bath with the occasional ginger bath is all you need to maintain a naturally healthy, fit and symptom and toxin-free body.

Oatmeal baths are both relaxing and soothing, especially when your skin feels itchy (such as during a bout of chicken pox or poison ivy rash),[1] or when it is inflamed (for example, as a result of allergies, insect bites, or sunburn).[2] Oatmeal is excellent for your skin, smells good, and leaves your skin feeling soft. With an oatmeal bath, you might wish you could just sit there forever. As an added advantage, there are limitless variations on the traditional oatmeal bath, some of which are described here. Follow these steps to prepare an easy but effective oatmeal bath to soothe your skin in the comfort of your own home.

1/2 to 1 cup of buttermilk or regular milk, for a relaxing, softening bath (optional)

Epsom salts, for a rejuvenating bath (optional)

Steps

Pour about 1/3 to 3/4 cup of oatmeal into a measuring cup. The amount used will depend on how large your coffee filter or muslin piece is.

Pour the oatmeal from the cup into a bowl.

Push down on the dry oatmeal with the back of a spoon. This is to get rid of any clumps that might have formed in storage.

You can skip this step if your oatmeal is already in smallish pieces.

If the oatmeal pieces are really large, place them into a plastic bag and turn them into smaller pieces by running a rolling pin over the bag and mashing them.

Add extras to the oatmeal, if wished. If you are having the bath for relaxation purposes, feel free to add additional elements. If you are using the oatmeal bath to treat itchiness, rashes, inflamed or sore skin, however, it is probably advisable to either avoid this step or to be very cautious, as these additions could aggravate the condition. Additions to consider include:Add

Lavender buds. If you don’t have lavender buds, take a stalk of dried lavender and break the individual buds off the branch and into the bowl.

Add a few drops of your preferred essential oil to the bowl. Be sure to choose a safe essential oil for bath use. Although this step is optional, it does heighten the enjoyment of the bathing experience. If you are suffering from a skin condition, skip this step.

Mix all additions in well with the spoon until the contents are evenly distributed.

Spoon the mixture into the coffee filter bag or muslin piece. The filter bags used in the images for this tutorial were size 4 filters (suitable for 8-12 cups of coffee), and required four level soup spoons of mixture to fill.

Tie it off with a rubber band, string, or ribbon. A rubber band is probably the easiest to use unless you have a friend to hold the bag for you while you tie it with string or ribbon.

Fill the tub with relatively hot water. If adding milk as well, pour the buttermilk or regular milk into the tub under the running water from the faucet.

Another optional step – add about 3/4 cup of Epsom salts to the buttermilk when you pour it into the tub to ease sore muscles and help achieve softer skin. Skip this step if you are treating your skin for any itchiness or soreness.

Throw the oatmeal/lavender bag in the back of the tub, away from the bath end with the running water. Allow to cool. As the tub cools to a tolerable temperature, the heat will cause the essences of oatmeal and lavender to disperse.

Step into the tub when it is tepid. Once in the bath, you cangently squeeze the oatmeal sachet to release more of the oatmeal liquid through the bath; don’t squeeze too hard if you’re using the filter paper version though, or it will break, leaving oatmeal in your bathtub. Enjoy the bath for as long as wished, although if you are treating a skin condition, don’t stay longer than 10 minutes to avoid aggravating your skin condition.

Light some pleasant vanilla or lavender candles for an even more relaxing setting.

If you have a skin condition, dry with care, using gentle blotting actions with a soft towel over the itchy or sore parts of your skin.

Repeat as needed. The beauty of oatmeal baths is that they are gentle enough to be enjoyed daily if wished.

Sounds Therapy

“Sound will one day heal disease.” stated in early 80’s by Sharron Mattson

www.crystaljourney.ca/ Experience sound from David Hickey

One of the most astoundingly powerful treatments recently “discovered” by mainstream medicine is sound therapy — and one of the oldest forms of sound therapy comes from the ancient practice of Qigong (pronounced chee gong or chee kung).

Qigong is a self-healing therapy that combines sound, vibration, movement, breathing, and visualization to heal disease and injury by improving the flow of the vital energy or life force called qi (pronounced chee).

Mind-body practices such as Qigong therapy improve the health of the immune system, nervous system, and internal organs. Just as important—or even more—is how Qigong melts away stress, the root cause of the vast majority of all disease.

The many forms of Qigong therapy (or external Qi healing, as it’s sometimes referred to in the U.S.), has been extensively researched, especially in China, with increasing scientific attention in the West.
Currently, Qigong therapy is even used as a treatment option for cancer at many integrative facilities, and has demonstrated benefits for myriad other common and serious ailments.

Hh is a silent sound, a quiet exhalation good for the heart and circulation, heart palpitations, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, heartburn, and irritability.

Heng is a quick, sharp sound that clears up the kidneys, lower back pain, prostate illness, some reproductive conditions, and ringing in the ears.

Hu is a deep, droning sound beneficial for the stomach, excessive or suppressed appetite, and abdominal gas.

Mer is a low, drawn out sound (moo-r) that affects the spleen, thereby alleviating digestive problems.

Xu is a quiet, protracted sound (shh) that’s great for the liver, lower back, some intestinal issues, erectile dysfunction, and urinary difficulties.

Yi is extended sound (pronounced like the long e, as in easy) that controls the flow of qi in the human body. It can be especially useful for headaches and back soreness.

Hong is a lingering, sonorous sound that stimulates the lymph system and facilitates the elimination of waste from the body.

Each person will vocalize the sounds in his or her own unique way, depending on factors such as:

• Breath

• Lung capacity

• Visualization

• Enthusiasm

• Vocal cords

• Intention

• Energy level

• Concentration

• Emotional state

Especially because individuals naturally vary the sounds to meet their own needs, the 8 sounds are 100% safe and effective for everyone. “Even when vocalizing the same syllable,” Wood writes, “Ah for example, my Ah is going to be different from your Ah.”

The important thing to remember is that whatever sound you vocalize is the right sound for you in that moment—just as long as you’re practicing proper breathing techniques and intentionality (see more about breathing and intention below).

“Trust that your body is going to automatically do what is beneficial for your health,” Wood advises. The sounds can be practiced standing still…walking…seated…and lying down. Benefits vary slightly between the positions.

How to Practice the 8 Sounds

Experts say it’s best to start with practicing the 8 sounds while seated. “Settle into a comfortable position and let your mind become quiet,” Wood recommends. Start by focusing on your breath, and then “for each of the sounds, breathe into your belly [and] as you exhale, make the sound.”

If you’re practicing the sounds properly, you should be able to feel the sound vibrate throughout your entire body.

As you make the sound, says Wood, “visualize the organ or body area you wish to improve as completely healthy and functional.” This is the intention behind the practice. Without the proper intention, the sound is meaningless.

Ideally, you should repeat each sound several times so that the entire practice takes between 15 and 20 minutes. Wood recommends doing 12, 16, or even 24 repetitions of each of the sounds. “The more you do,” Wood says, “up to repetitions of 50 of each sound, the more you will benefit!”

Healing Clays

Clay baths have been used for centuries as a safe and effective method of natural detoxification. Today, clay baths are a common treatment for everything from heavy metal poisoning, radiation and pesticide exposure, and soothing aching muscles. There’s even some solid, encouraging results reported by scientists who treat autism with clay baths.

Wheat Grass*Micro greens*Cholorophyll

Wheatgrass nutrients
On a macronutrient and micronutrient level (fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals), wheatgrass doesn’t seem like a health food to get excited about. A typical one-ounce serving contains only seven calories, no fat and virtually no carbohydrates and protein. Wheatgrass contains no essential omega-3 fatty acids nor does it have much vitamin content with the exception of 7 percent of the daily value (DV) of vitamin C. A one-ounce shot also contains 10 percent DV of iron, but only a trace amount of any other well-known vitamins and minerals.

So why all the hoopla over wheatgrass? Chlorophyll — the green pigment that plays a critical role in photosynthesis, allowing plants to absorb energy from the sun — is touted by natural health advocates as an all-star health compound that increases the blood’s oxygen content.

It’s the chlorophyll, wheatgrass advocates claim, that helps rid the body of toxins, strengthens immunity and improves the micro-flora ecology of the digestive tract.

How is Chlorophyll so closely related to human blood?
Both Chlorophyll and Hemoglobin share a similar atom structure to create their
respective molecules. The only actual difference in the two molecules is that of the
metallic atom element. In human blood or hemoglobin consists or iron, while in
Chlorophyll the metallic atom is magnesium. As we all know the constitution of our blood is a bit alkaline. The proportion of hydrogen molecules (ph) in it is 7.4. Similarly wheat grass is also alkaline and its pH is, too, 7.4.

That is the reason why wheat grass is quickly absorbed in the blood

and is therefore beneficial to our body.

What is the importance of Chlorophyll’s resemblance to human blood;
Since Chlorophyll and Hemoglobin are so much alike in atom structure allows it to be
absorbed quickly and begin to build the blood stream.

Is there any proof to back these claims?

Many cancer survivors swear by wheatgrass. But is consuming wheatgrass any more effective than, say, eating copious amounts of fresh vegetables? To date there is little scientific evidence to support wheatgrass’ nutritional merits. According to New York University’s Langone Medical Center, a small study of 24 patients with ulcerative colitis concluded that those who took a wheatgrass supplement improved their conditions versus those who took a placebo.

Another small study in the journal Indian Pediatrics concluded that patients with a form of anemia (thalassemia) required fewer blood transfusions after consuming 100 milliliters of wheatgrass daily.

An Israeli study of 60 patients with breast cancer concluded that wheatgrass juice may reduce myelotoxicity and chemotherapy dosage. The study’s preliminary results need confirmation upon further testing.

One shot of wheat grass = 2 pounds of vegetables?
Several natural health articles and websites claim that consuming two ounces of wheatgrass contains the same nutritional composition as several servings of vegetables. But no clinical trials support this claim or other validations of wheatgrass’ positive effects on tumor shrinkage, prevention of heart disease and diabetes, or its role in the elimination of heavy metals from tissues.

A natural health website claims that Bernard Jensen, a naturopath and chiropractor who passed away in 2001 at the age of 92, wrote several natural health books and claimed that he was able to double the red blood cell count of his patients by having them soak in a chlorophyll bath. However, there are no medical studies to support Jensen’s.

Dr. Chris Reynolds, an Australian-based doctor who goes by the alias “Dr. Wheatgrass,” tells Mother Nature Network that he’s had tremendous success over the last 18 years in his practice by having his patients take a chlorophyll-free wheatgrass sprout extract.

But isn’t chlorophyll supposed to be the compound that gives wheatgrass its healing properties?

“Although chlorophyll is essential for keeping us all breathing, it has little if any physiological or positive effect on human health,” says Reynolds in an email. “The benefits of wheatgrass are largely biological, not nutritional as most purveyors of wheatgrass in its various forms would have one believe.”

Reynolds argues that there is plenty of evidence to support wheatgrass extract’s role in supporting biological functions, including one preliminary study (http://research.avemar.com/en/node/50 ) in the Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research, which suggests that fermented wheatgrass extract “exerts significant antitumor activity.” The study concludes that the extract requires further evaluation as a candidate for clinical combination drug regimens.

Nutrients

Nutrients found in wheatgrass include vitamins A, B-complex, C, E and K along with calcium, iron and magnesium. Wheatgrass also contain protein forming amino acids which the body needs to digest food, notes Medline Plus. Wheatgrass possesses a substance called chlorophyll which has anti-inflammatory and wound -healing effects, according to the website Nutritional Supplements Health Guide.com.

Types

Wheatgrass is available in numerous forms including capsules, tablets, powder, liquid extracts and tinctures. Wheatgrass is sometimes added to tea, smoothies or juice. Wheatgrass seeds are also available for purchase to grow the herb at home. An average daily dosage of wheatgrass juice is 100 ml to 300 ml, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, or UPMC.

Precautions

Wheatgrass is generally regarded as safe, however thorough safety studies have not been conducted. Side effects of wheatgrass may include headaches, nausea and possible swelling of the throat. People who are allergic to wheat or grass as well as women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use wheatgrass, cautions the Mayo Clinic. Wheatgrass may be tainted with mold or bacteria since it is typically grown in soil or water and consumed raw. Ask your health care provider about the potential risks and benefits associated with wheatgrass.

Considerations

Wheatgrass isn’t a miracle cure and should not be considered a substitute medical care or a nutritious diet that includes whole grains, lean protein sources, as well as fruits and vegetables, cautions the Mayo Clinic. Wheatgrass may add variety to your diet when used sparingly and sensibly.

The Four Microgreens for the Best Health

The folks at the Department of Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Maryland have recently made an important discovery about some healing foods. These foods are special, because they contain extra doses of disease-fighting antioxidants and healing phytonutrients. They’re called “microgreens” and are the seedlings of vegetables and herbs. Not familiar with microgreens? They have been slowly gaining popularity as a new culinary trend over the past few years. Although small in size, microgreens can provide surprisingly intense flavors, vivid colors, and crisp textures. They are often served as an edible garnish or a salad ingredient. Until recently, however, no scientific data were currently available on the nutritional content of microgreens. The present study was conducted to determine the concentrations of ascorbic acid, carotenoids, phylloquinone, and tocopherols in 25 commercially available microgreens. The U.S. researchers found that different microgreens provided extremely varying amounts of vitamins and carotenoids. Total ascorbic acid contents, for example, ranged from 20.4 to147.0 milligrams per 100 grams fresh weight, while beta-carotene, lutein/zeaxanthin, and violaxanthin concentrations ranged from 0.6 to 10.1, respectively. Meanwhile, alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol ranged from 4.9 to 87.4. Among the 25 microgreens researched, red cabbage, cilantro, garnet amaranth, and green daikon radish had the highest concentrations of ascorbic acids, carotenoids, phylloquinone, and tocopherols, respectively. In comparison with nutritional concentrations in mature leaves, the microgreens leaves possessed higher nutritional densities. So what can all of these nutrients do for you? Ascorbic acid is a naturally occurring compound with antioxidant properties. Carotenoids could help protect you from the damaging effects of free radicals. Tocopherols are vitamin-E compounds that are fat-soluble. Like ascorbic acid, they are potent antioxidants that could protect against diseases like cancer. And, finally, phylloquinone, also known as vitamin K, plays an important role in maintaining your health, vitality, and well-being when included as part of your diet.

How to sprout sunflower seeds.... by http://www.plantswap.net/forum/f5/how-grow-sunflower-sprouts-9028/I have had a couple requests to do a pictorial on how to grow sunflower sprouts and wheatgrass.

In managing my chronic health condition, I believe that the energy, vitamins, alkalinity and enzymes in these natural plant sources have helped me to overcome pain, inflammation and a host of medical problems. I now manage my illness, and lead a healthier and fuller life.

I am going to start with sunflower sprouts, and if any of you would like, I’ll follow with a pictorial of sprouting and growing wheatgrass.

If anyone wants further information on the benefits of sunflower sprouts, let me know as well, and I will post it.

I eat these sprouts in salads, sandwiches, etc. Most importantly, I juice them in very large quantities almost every day!

You can grow sprouts for pennies a day…. even during the winter months… if you have a warm sunny window… you are set to go!

HOW TO SPROUT SUNFLOWER SEEDS:

You may use any sunflower seeds, just make sure if you buy bird seed, that it is not treated or vitamin enriched in any way.

Soak 1 – 2 cups of sunflower seeds in a glass or metal bowl for 8 to 10 hours. I usually put them to soak at night before bed.

In order to ensure that the top seeds stay wet, cover them with a paper or cloth towel.

Make sure that you do not oversoak and drown the seeds. After you have soaked the seeds for 8 to 10 hours, strain them, and cover again with a wet towel or cloth. Keep them in the strainer, and place the bowl underneath.

Rinse the seeds 2 to 3 times per day, keeping them moist, until the seeds begin to sprout. This step will take 2 to 4 days, depending on variables such as room temperature, humidity, etc. First, white dots will appear at the top of the seed, then they will sprout.

Make sure to not to leave them too long, or you will start growing long sunflower roots right on your kitchen counter! They will also be more difficult to spread on top of your soil if you wait too long.

When the seeds look like the picture above, they are ready to plant. You will need some sort of growing tray with drainage holes.

Spread evenly a half inch to 3/4 inch of regular potting soil (or top soil) in the sprouting tray.

Spread the seeds evenly over the top of the soil. It is important to place them close together, but not overlapping too thickly. If the seeds get too thick, it will not only be a waste of seeds but will also promote mold growth.

Through trial, you will determine how many cups of seeds you will need for your size of sprouting tray.

Water the tray with a light spray setting from your hose or kitchen sprayer until water begins to drip from the drainage holes below. Make sure that you do not disturb the seeds too much while watering or you will have an uneven harvest.

Cover the tray with another tray, blocking out the majority of light. Place a brick or rock on top to weigh down the top tray. Water Daily.

After 1-3 days, you will see that the sprouts begin to lift up the top tray.

When you remove the lid, it should look like this….

Now it is time to do a root check test to ensure that the roots have grown in sufficiently. Lift the sprouts and dirt by gently pulling upward on a handfull of sprouts in one corner of the tray. The dirt should lift, and you should see exposed roots. (The reason that the tray is weighed down is to ensure that the roots grow fully into the soil before the sprout grows). If the roots have not developed sufficiently, cover again and retest the next day.

At this point, keep the tray uncovered in direct sunlight

After 2-3 days, you will have a wonderful, nutritious, tasty batch of sunflower sprouts!

You will know the sprouts are ready to harvest when you see that many of them have started to grow double leaves.

The following picture is somewhat blurry, but if you look close, you can see a second set of small leaves growing from the center of some of the sprouts.

Harvest the sprouts with a pair of scissors or a knife, cutting as close to but not touching the soil. So that they keep longer, store them in longer lasting veggie bags or special tupperware containers for veggies, etc.

How to take flax or chia seed: Take 1-3 tablespoons of fresh ground flax and/or chia seed daily. (You do not need to grind the chia seeds.) You need to take the seeds away from other proteins (at least 1/2 hour), and with a carbohydrate (like a piece of fruit) so that your body will pick up on the tryptophan*. That means don’t take it with meat, milk, yogurt, etc. Some people swirl the ground flax seed and/or chia in 100% fruit juice. I swirl it in water and then have some fruit, or I have it in a mixture of 1/2 fruit juice 1/2 water if I’m too busy to eat right then. If you have insomnia you can spread the flax and chia seed out and take some in the evening. This has been known to help with sleep. You don’t have to take both flax andchia, you can take one or the other.

Why flax and chia seeds are so good for you:
They contain two ingredients that help the brain. Tryptophan and Omega 3. Tryptophan is an amino acid required for the body to make serotonin, which is key to our brain’s health*. Please note that flax seed oil does not have tryptophan. You need to have flax seed. For further information on key nutrients required for serotonin and other neurotransmitters, read Dr. Neil Nedley’s textbooks. I also suggest The Ultramind Solution by Mark Hyman (ISBN-13: 978-1-4165-4971-0.)

Where to get flax/chia seed: I have seen flax seed in all of my local grocery stores, and I am starting to see chia seeds in some grocery store bulk sections. I also found ground flax seed at Sam’s Club. But some experts (like a doctor I know) say fresh ground flax seed works better. I have to trust the doctor since he has a blood tester of some kind and tests his own blood as he experiments. So I grind some (in my blender) about every 2 weeks and keep it in the fridge. Health food stores usually carry it as well. But the most important thing is you take it. If you can’t take fresh ground, or if you cannot take it away from protein–at least take it!

Most health food stores carry chia seed. I buy my chia seeds on the internet either at Amazon (The Raw Food World Natural Health’s brand), or online at Nature’s Answer, or at www.aliveandaware.net. (Vitacost also carries chia seeds.) Prices seem to fluctuate a bit. Rumor has it that white chia seed is healthier, but it is more expensive too. I just use 1/2 tablespoon more of the black chia seed than I would the white chia seed.

If this is going to help me, how soon will it help? If you eat lots of meat and sugary foods or soda pop, it’s going to take more time than if you are eating well. Some people notice a difference within days. For others it takes about as long as it would with an anti-depressant. I can’t stress enough how important it is to eat well. Eating too much meat means there is a lot of protein competing against the uptake of tryptophan.

If sugar isn’t good for me, why do I crave it? If you are craving sugar, that’s one of the body’s signals that your serotonin is low. Chocolate cravings signal the same type of thing. It gives you an artificial rush, but doesn’t really solve the underlying problem. I have found that if I’m stressed and start craving sugar that’s my signal that I need to increase my intake of flax or chia seeds and maybe my fish oil pills. I will continue taking an increased amount until the stressful situation has passed. (Please take a high quality fish oil pill, see my other blog post for that.*)

What if I can’t take flax seed? There are a very small minority of people who react to flax seed. Do not despair, because most who can’t take flax seed can take chia seed. Some find chia is even more effective than flax. (Chia has many anti-inflammatory properties.) Raw cashews are also very nutrient packed for depression. Pumpkin seeds may help with anxiety because they are high in the amino acid “taurine,” which help make GABBA, which helps relax the nervous system. Spirulina may be another option for you. It is loaded with tryptophan and has anti-inflammatory properties as well. I would take it with a fruit or 100% fruit juice just like you would take the flax or chia seeds in order to help the body pick up on the tryptophan.

Dr. Nedley mentions chia seed in his weight loss recipe. But it will not cause weight loss if you don’t need to lose weight. I take both chia and flax seed. Maria prefers chia seed. I combine the flax and chia together and drink it immediately. Chia is kind of different because it gels up when it’s in water. Some drink it in a gel form, but I prefer to drink it before it gels. For further information about chia seeds, see the following link: http://www.eatchia.com/

Fragrance materials are added to give products a scent, to mask odors of other ingredients, and in some cases to alter mood. Fragrance materials may be synthetic, natural, or a combination of both. Using scented products causes exposure to skin, upper airways, and olfactory pathways to the brain and lungs. These are all entry points to the body, causing systemic exposure as well. Fragrance inhalation through the nose goes directly to the brain where its neurological effects can alter blood pressure, pulse and mood, as well as having sedative effects.

Volatile Compounds

Fragrances are volatile compounds that linger in the air adding to indoor air pollution and contribute to poor indoor air quality. Fragrance formulations often contain high concentrations of potent and long lasting synthetic chemicals for which very little data exists regarding their health and safety. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acknowledges that poor air quality contributes to a host of physical and neurological problems including headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and forgetfulness. Eighty to 90% of fragrance chemicals are synthesized from petroleum products and are designed to disperse quickly into the air where they can linger on fabrics and surfaces for months.

Fragrance is Everywhere

Fragrance chemicals are unavoidable. They are included in every personal care product, cosmetic, detergent, soap, fabric softener, pesticide, candle, car and room air-freshener. Hotels and motels routinely spray with fragrance or use plug-in devices to disperse a scent. Most modern facilities have windows that do not open, preventing fresh air from entering. When making room reservations this writer has begun requesting that no spray be used. Providing fragrance-free guest rooms has not yet caught on in the hospitality trade. When more consumers ask for “fragrance-free” rooms they may become more available, similar to the demand for tobacco-free rooms.

Perfumes

Perfumes contain neuro toxins which have a causal link to central nervous system disorders, headaches, confusion, dizziness, short-term memory loss, anxiety, depression, disorientation, and mood swings. To avoid second hand exposure among a growing population of sensitive individuals, some high schools, workplaces, and public buildings have enacted policies banning the use of perfumes.

Bach Flower Remedies

Prior to humans being exposed to modern synthetic petroleum derived fragrance products, and the ensuing problems associated with such exposure, fragrances derived from flowers and plants were used for millennia to soothe and heal. Historically, herbal medicine has been used for the purposes of “clearing, consoling, quieting, uplifting, and settling the mind and the emotions.” Through his work in homeopathy during the early 1900s, Edward Bach, MD, developed a specialized branch of herbal medicine using only the flowers, which are the highly potent seed-bearing part of a plant. Dr. Bach did not offer any scientific explanation of how the flower remedies worked, and in fact, was wary of the trends in scientific theories. He believed it was necessary to first improve a patient’s emotional state in order to bring about physical well being, and by careful observation he developed what is now commonly referred to as the Bach Flower Remedies.

Aromas Influence Body and Mind

The fragrance of essential oils are claimed to enhance everything from emotional state to lifespan. Throughout history aromatic oils have been used for their power to influence emotions and states of mind. This is the basis for which oils have been used for centuries as incense for religious and ritualistic purposes.

Upon inhalation of a fragrance, the odor molecules travel up the nose where they are captured by the olfactory membrane. Each odor molecule fits into specific receptor cell lining the olfactory epithelium. There are hundreds of millions of nerve cells and they are each replaced every 28 days. Odor molecules stimulate the lining of nerve cells which trigger electrical impulses to the olfactory bulb, which then transmits impulses to the gustatory center (where the sensation of taste is perceived), the amygdala (where emotional memories are stored), and other parts of the limbic system of the brain. Essential oils can have some very profound physiological and psychological effects because the limbic system is directly connected to those parts of the brain that control heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, stress levels, hormone balance, and memory.

Of the five senses, only our sense of smell is linked directly to the limbic lobe of the brain, our emotional control center. Fear, anxiety, depression, anger, and joy all emanate from this region of the brain. A particular scent or fragrance can evoke memories and emotions before we are even consciously aware of them. Our senses of touch, taste, hearing, and sight, are all routed through the thalamus, which serves as a switchboard for the brain, passing stimuli onto the cerebral cortex and to other parts of the brain.

The limbic lobe, which encompasses a group of brain structures including the hippocampus, can also directly activate the hypothalamus, one of the most important parts of the brain, which serves as our hormonal control center. The hypothalamus is responsible for the production of growth hormones, sex hormones, thyroid hormones, and neurotransmitters such as serotonin. The hypothalamus has earned the designation of “master gland” due to its many important functions.

The limbic lobe and hypothalamus can be directly stimulated through the fragrance and unique molecular structure of essential oils, which can exert a profound effect on the body and mind. Inhalation of essential oils can be used to reduce stress and emotional trauma, and to stimulate the production of hormones from the hypothalamus that can result in increased thyroid hormone responsible for our energy levels, among other things, and growth hormone known as the youth and longevity hormone.

Upon inhaling a particular scent, the odor travels through the nose to the limbic section of the brain that controls stress levels, heart rate, blood pressure and breathing. Fragrance chemicals easily alter the brain’s neuro-chemistry. Dr. Alan Hirsch of the Smell and Taste Treatment Center and Research Foundation in Chicago believes smells can change a mood state faster than anything else. Through the ages we have accumulated much information about the positive effects of essential oils on mood and general well being. Unfortunately, we know very little about the effects of synthetic fragrance on the brain.

In the 1970s, however, there was a classic case of synthetic fragrance causing widespread health problems. The chemical, AETT (acetylethyltetramethyletetralin) was included in numerous personal care products. A series of animal studies showed it to cause significant brain and spinal cord damage, but the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) refused to ban the chemical. After years of allowing its distribution in consumer products, the cosmetic industry finally withdrew it.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are components of hundreds of different chemicals that can exert many different effects on the body. This completely prevents pure essential oils from disrupting the body’s natural balance or homeostasis. If one constituent exerts too strong an effect, another constituent may block or counteract it, thereby preserving homeostasis. Synthetic chemicals, on the other hand, usually have only one action, which often disrupts the body’s natural homeostasis.

Brain Oxygen

Researchers at the Universities of Vienna and Berlin found that sesquiterpenes in the essential oils of sandalwood and frankincense can increase levels of oxygen in the brain as much as 28 percent. An increase in brain oxygen can improve the level of activity in the hypothalamus and limbic systems of the brain, dramatically affecting emotions, learning, and attitude. Increased oxygen in the brain also improves the immune system, hormone balance, and energy levels. In addition to sandalwood and frankincense, high levels ofsesquiterpenes are found in melissa, myrrh, and clove oils.

Weight Loss

Essential oils are capable of stimulating the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus, a portion of the brain that regulates our feeling of satiety, or fullness after a meal. In a clinical study conducted by Alan Hirsch, MD, at the Smell and Taste Treatment Center and Research Foundation, essential oils were used to reduce appetite and bring about dramatic results in weight loss involving more than 3,000 participants over a six-month period. The essential oil of peppermint was used on a group of patients previously unsuccessful in any weight loss program. The average weight loss exceeded five pounds each month, and was reported in the Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science, Vol. 14, Sept/Oct No. 5.

Lavender and Libido

Appetite is not the only thing that essential oils have been successful in stimulating. A second double blind randomized study by Dr. Hirsch documents the ability of certain aromas to enhance libido. The study included 31 males who were exposed to 30 different essential oil aromas. The scents that produced the most excitement in the study, and among the subjects, were a combination of lavender and pumpkin.

Therapeutic Standards

Essential oils are the volatile liquids distilled from plant components including flowers, fruits, seeds, leaves, bark, stems, and roots. The purity of an oil is determined by its chemical constituents which can be affected by any number of variables such as, which part of the plant was used for extracting the oil, geographical region, altitude, climate, soil, growing conditions, harvest method and season, and distillation process.

Approximately 200 types of oils are distilled from which several thousand chemical constituents and aromatic molecules have been identified and registered. The perfume and cosmetic industry uses 98% of the extracted oils. The remaining two percent is used for therapeutic and medicinal applications.

Therapeutic grade essential oils require the preservation of as many of the delicate aromatic compounds as possible. High temperature and pressure, plus contact with chemically reactive metals, such as copper or aluminum, can easily destroy the fragile aromatic chemicals in the volatile liquids. All therapeutic grade and medicinal essential oils should be distilled only in stainless steel cooking chambers at low pressure and low temperature. Agri-chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers can react with the essential oils during distillation to produce toxic compounds.

Essential oils are among the oldest medicines used by humankind and are beginning to enjoy a renaissance among holistic health consumers. But not everything sold as “essential” oils are pure therapeutic grade products. Most distillation procedures are designed for maximum profit and may use solvents, high temperatures, high pressure, or reactive metal equipment. The main constituents and fragrances of some oils are synthetically produced. They should not be used for therapeutic applications, and may even carry risks. Only the purest quality essential oils should be used for therapeutic purposes. Adulterated or inferior oils may not produce the desired therapeutic results and could possibly be toxic.

Europe has developed a set of standards to evaluate an essential oil based on the chemical profile and principal constituents necessary for a high quality product. These guidelines, known as AFNOR and ISO standards help consumers differentiate between a therapeutic grade essential oil and an inferior product with a similar chemical makeup and fragrance. AFNOR stands for Association French Normalization Organization Regulation. ISO refers to the International Standards Organization, which has adopted AFNOR standards. A product may be Grade A, and of high quality, but if some constituents are too high or too low, it cannot be AFNOR or ISO certified. Two companies in the US have made serious efforts to comply with the European testing standards. They are Flora Research and Young Living Essential Oils.

Essential Oils Comparison Chart

This aromatherapy chart allows you to look up essential oil properties, emotional/mental/physical influence, methods of use and cautions. Organized alphabetically.

Chamomileoil, There are many varieties of chamomile but only two are used in aromatherapy- Roman and German. Both have similar healing properties but German chamomile contains a higher level of azulin (an anti-inflammatory agent).

Spruce has calming and elevating properties. It can be used as a topical application for muscular aches and pains, poor circulation, and rheumatism. Spruce Oil has also been used to improve breathing conditions of asthma, bronchitis, coughs, and general weakness.[28]

Star aniseoil, highly fragrant oil using in cooking. Also used in perfumery and soaps, has been used in toothpastes, mouthwashes, and skin creams.[29] 90% of the world’s star anise crop is used in the manufacture of Tamiflu, a drug used to treat influenza, and is hoped to be useful for avian flu

Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils: The Complete Guide to the Use of Oils in Aromatherapy and Herbalism (ISBN 1852307218) 1995

The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy

Synthetic Chemicals Impair Essential Oils

Essential oils are very diverse in their effects and can perform several different functions. They are described as chemically heterogenetic. Synthetic chemicals are quite the opposite having basically just one action. Our pervasive exposure to perfumes and petroleum based synthetic chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products may interfere with some individuals’ ability to fully benefit from using essential oils, and may even cause allergic reaction in sensitive individuals.

When considering daily use of essential oils for health improvement it is strongly advised to avoid personal care products containing ammonium or hydrocarbon-based chemicals. Found in a variety of hand creams, mouthwashes, antiperspirants, after-shave lotions, and hair products, these chemicals include quarternarium 1-29 and polyquarternarium 1-14. Commonly used benzalkonium chloride can be fatal if ingested. These chemicals can be toxic in small concentrations and may possibly react with essential oils creating by-products of unknown toxicity.

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